(WO) — The Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) welcomed passage of H.R. 4776, known as the SPEED Act, by the U.S. House of Representatives, calling the legislation a critical step toward reforming federal permitting for energy infrastructure.
The bill seeks to streamline environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, a process industry groups say has contributed to years-long delays for oil, natural gas and infrastructure projects. TIPRO has publicly supported the legislation, which now awaits action in the U.S. Senate.
Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO, said permitting reform is essential for the U.S. energy sector to meet growing domestic and international demand.
“On behalf of our nearly 3,000 members, TIPRO applauds the passage of H.R. 4776 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Comprehensive permitting reform is a strategic imperative for our country and industry. Without it, America’s energy sector, particularly oil and natural gas, cannot operate at the pace or scale needed to meet domestic needs, support allies abroad, or ensure long-term affordability for consumers,” Longanecker said.
He said prolonged federal reviews have delayed critical infrastructure projects, with broader economic impacts.
“For too long, federal infrastructure approvals have languished in bureaucratic limbo, with critical energy projects delayed by years due to duplicative reviews, inconsistent agency coordination, and open-ended legal challenges,” he said.
Longanecker also tied permitting delays to rising energy costs and future demand from data centers and artificial intelligence development.
“Permitting paralysis has real-world consequences. American families feel it at the gas pump. Manufacturers see it in elevated energy costs,” he said, adding that growing power needs from AI-driven data centers will further increase demand for U.S. natural gas.
The SPEED Act—formally titled the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act—was introduced in July by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and co-sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME). The bill proposes clearer definitions for federal actions under NEPA, firm timelines for environmental reviews and limits on legal challenges after final agency decisions.
“For the oil and natural gas industry, comprehensive permitting reform is mission critical,” Longanecker said. “It unlocks investment, accelerates innovation, strengthens national security, and ensures that the United States remains a reliable energy partner to the world.”
TIPRO urged the Senate to take up the legislation, though prospects for passage remain uncertain heading into 2026.
